Prefiled 01/08/09. Read first time 01/12/09.   Referred to Committee on Community & Economic Development & Trade.

     AN ACT Relating to improving the effectiveness of the office of minority and women's business enterprises; amending RCW 39.19.041; and adding new sections to chapter 43.41 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 43.41 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The office shall, in consultation with the office of minority and women's business enterprises and any advisory committee, develop a strategic plan to improve the effectiveness of all state agencies in carrying out the purposes of chapter 39.19 RCW, including assisting small minority and women's business enterprises in competing for and receiving state contracts and otherwise succeeding in this state. The plan must be updated at least annually and must include timelines and, at a minimum, strategies to:
     (a) Facilitate communication with and among minority and women's business enterprises on contracting with the state, including providing for a central depository of information accessible to small businesses and to individual contracting agencies and officers;
     (b) Increase the effectiveness of existing outreach from the office of minority and women's business enterprises to small businesses, including publicizing the value of certification under chapter 39.19 RCW, and increase outreach by individual agencies;
     (c) Streamline the statewide certification process under chapter 39.19 RCW;
     (d) Focus technical assistance to small businesses and certified firms;
     (e) Provide an effective training program to contracting officers at all state agencies on the certification process in chapter 39.19 RCW and ways to increase the role of minority and women-owned businesses in state contracting;
     (f) Address barriers to inclusion of certified firms in the state procurement process;
     (g) Increase selection of firms certified under chapter 39.19 RCW as prime contractors and subcontractors in contracts awarded by state agencies and educational institutions; and
     (h) Develop accountability measures to use in reporting progress by state agencies and educational institutions in achieving the purposes of this chapter.
     (2) The office must report on the strategic plan and its assessment of progress to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature, with a preliminary report by September 1, 2009, and annual reports beginning December 1, 2009. The report must include relevant fiscal information.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.41 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) For the purpose of annual reporting on progress required by section 1 of this act, each state agency and educational institution shall submit data to the office and the office of minority and women's business enterprises on the participation by qualified minority and women-owned and controlled businesses in the agency's or institution's contracts and other related information requested by the director. The director of the office of minority and women's business enterprises shall determine the content and format of the data and the reporting schedule, which must be at least annually.
     (2) The office must develop and maintain a list of contact people at each state agency and educational institution that is able to present to hearings of the appropriate committees of the legislature its progress in carrying out the purposes of chapter 39.19 RCW.
     (3) The office must submit a report aggregating the data received from each state agency and educational institution to the legislature and the governor.

Sec. 3   RCW 39.19.041 and 1995 c 269 s 1302 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The director may establish ((ad hoc advisory committees, as necessary,)) advisory committees on various aspects of minority and women's business enterprises on an ad hoc basis to assist in the development of policies to carry out the purposes of this chapter and to provide the director with policy advice on current issues.
     (2) The advisory committees may meet as often as necessary.
     (3) Advisory committee membership:
     (a) Must be as diverse and representative as possible of businesses certified under this chapter unless such a requirement would reduce the number of members with relevant knowledge and experience;
     (b) Should include organizations that represent minority and women-owned businesses;
     (c) Should reflect statewide geographic distribution of small businesses; and
     (d) May include nonvoting representatives of state and local government.